Time for Talk is Over, It's Go Time: Penn State Football Team Leaves for Ireland

Photo by Steve Bauer/StateCollege.com
Penn State Head Football Coach James Franklin on the bus as team leaves State College bound for Ireland.

Click photo for gallery

A surprisingly business-like atmosphere hung in the air as Penn State's football team departed State College for Ireland Tuesday evening.

The players walked to their buses parked outside the Lasch Building either one at a time or in small groups. There was no pep talk, no trash talk, almost no talk at all. Conversation, when it happened, was mostly hushed.

The coaching staff was also keeping quiet. As head coach James Franklin boarded the first bus in line, he acknowledged a small group of reporters waiting for him. "Hey guys," he said. Asked if he was ready to go, Franklin replied simply, "Yep."

It appeared the entire team already had its game face on, some three thousand miles before reaching Dublin to play UCF on Saturday in Penn State's first overseas game -- ever.

You can watch video of the team leaving State College in the video below:

When Penn State's plane touches down in Dublin on Wednesday, StateCollege.com sports reporter Ben Jones will be there waiting. He'll be sending back up-to-the-minute reports all week long, so be sure to check our website throughout the days ahead for the latest updates.

Steve Bauer was the Managing Editor of StateCollege.com. Steve and his wife Trina are longtime area residents. They reside in State College along with a wacky Golden Retriever named Izzy.
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